If you only saw the highlights from Thessaloniki last night, you might think Konstantinos Mavropanos had a bad game.
Greece were 2-0 up at half-time against the Netherlands. Then, on 59 minutes, Virgil van Dijk rose from a corner and headed home, with our Greek centre-back the last man trying to clear it.
Mavropanos seemed to lose the flight of the ball, and Greek outlet Gazzetta was quick to point that out. It finished 2-2.
Fair enough. He’ll want that one back. But judging him on that moment alone would be misleading.
Look at the rest of his night. According to FotMob figures reported by West Ham Zone, he made more defensive contributions than anyone on the pitch with 17, including 10 clearances and five blocks, and he completed 96 per cent of his passes.
He played the full 90 against a Dutch side that threw everything at Greece after the break. He also came up against old mate Crysencio Summerville and came out of it with the bragging rights.
That’s not a defender who’s wobbling. That’s a defender in form.
Mavropanos has four goals in seven league appearances this season, which is ridiculous for a centre-back. He looks like the player we hoped we were signing: aggressive, front-foot and dominant in both boxes.
That’s why I’m not interested in January centre-back chatter right now. Yes, Nuno’s squad could use depth, and nobody’s pretending we’re the finished article. But in a Championship season that rewards bodies, nerve and consistency, Mavropanos is exactly the type of leader you build a promotion push around.
The only thing I want from him now is the same as I want from Solomon, Mukasa and the rest: get back to Rush Green fit and in one piece. QPR at the London Stadium next Friday doesn’t care about Nations League results, and we need our big Greek at his best.
